Joe knew this was going to happen. It’s one of the few things he could remember.
Since Joe was practically a vegetable, I’m guessing he was not read in on the operation; he could not have been trusted not to spill at least some of the beans in one of his many gaffes. I’m not giving him any credit; he’s done plenty of evil things, but I don’t think he was told about this, at least not beforehand.
I think he could’ve been told about just a little before it happened. Ordered by Obama or whomever was running the real show.